KEVIN Nolan apologised to each and every one of his Toon team-mates during the half-time interval against Everton following his red card yesterday.

The Scouser was dismissed by ref Lee Mason following his x-rated two-footed tackle on Victor Anichebe, leaving Newcastle to battle on with just 10 men against the Toffees.

Nolan will also miss three games for the shocking challenge at a time when Newcastle are far from safety in the Premier League.

Yet after the ex-Bolton Wanderers skipper made his way to the tunnel he first waited to apologise to Anichebe before standing at the dressing room door to say sorry to each of his colleagues.

Both caretaker boss Chris Hughton and Everton gaffer David Moyes also accepted his apologies while close pal and ex-team-mate Gary Speed said: “He’s not that type of player, it’s out of character.

“He’s been sent off before but for nothing of this kind of nature.”

Nolan said to Anichebe in the tunnel: “I’m really sorry. I was late – I didn’t mean to hurt you.

“I can only apologise.”

A rocked Nolan will now miss an emotional return to the Reebok Stadium on Sunday as he starts the first game of his three-match ban, and the midfielder is also ruled out of the difficult home game with Manchester United and the trip to Hull City on March 14.

Meanwhile, caretaker boss Chris Hughton expects to have Geordie striker Andy Carroll back for the Bolton game next week after the Academy product missed the 3-2 win at West Brom and the stalemate with Everton with his ankle injury.